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TENNIS: Shiltz, Warriors continue to roll

Jordan Shiltz probably can’t wait to make the trip to Fergus Falls on Thursday.

That’s when the Brainerd senior hopes to get a rematch against the Otters’ Jesse Schneeburger at No. 2 singles, the player who dealt him his only loss this spring.

Shiltz has won seven straight matches since then, including a 6-1, 6-4 win over Adam Kourajian in Tuesday’s 6-1 win over the Sartell Sabres in a Central Lakes Conference meet.

“He’s been pretty steady,” Warriors coach Bruce Thompson said of Shiltz. “He had a tough go with the Fergus Falls match, it just wasn’t there, he didn’t play his match.

“The rest of the time he’s been playing real well. He’s playing within himself, keeping the ball deep, keeping the ball in play, and he’s got such quick feet. He’s stayed in all points. He’s been really steady and consistent, which is a nice thing to have from the No. 2 singles spot.”

Shiltz said he was “rolling along” in the first set Tuesday.

“And I was in a really good rhythm,” he added. “My serves were doing really well. I was hitting nice shots.

“The second set I was kind of in a little struggle. I was missing serves and missing shots that I should have been hitting, but I just stayed aggressive. I was moving my feet, trying to get into the net as much as I can. Toward the end, I closed it off and got the win.”

Brainerd’s Cole Sundquist won at No. 1 singles and freshman DJ Kraemer won at No. 4.

Luke Jacobsen battled through a 3-setter at No. 3 singles, losing the first set 6-2, and winning the second 6-4 before losing the third 6-4.

“Luke just worked hard,” Thompson said. “He’s got to work on some skills and work on developing what we can do better, but the kid never gives up. He ran himself all over the court. It was crazy.

“He gets down on himself a little bit, but he really worked. That’s what you have to do in anything you do, I don’t care what sport it is. You’ve got to be willing to work out there, and he’s doing that for us. We just need to make our skill set a little bit better.”